Advanced Practice Clinician Fellowship
North Mississippi Medical Center offers an Advanced Practice Clinician Fellowship. The program is open to a nurse practitioner within 18 months after graduation from an accredited NP program. The fellowship has a primary care focus and a blended approach to the clinical experiences and allows for the 400 hours of direct supervision as required by North Mississippi Medical Center. Dr. Vernon Rayford, M.D., Pharm.D, FAAP, fellowship medical director, is board certified in internal medicine, pediatrics and obesity medicine and is additionally trained as a Pharm.D. The Director of the APC Fellowship is Angel Justice, MSN, FNP-BC, who is board certified as a family nurse practitioner. Both have years of experience as providers of care to Mississippians.
Our Mission
To transform trainees into demonstrably high quality and capable advanced practice clinicians who will be lifelong providers of quality evidence-based care; work to improve the health of the people of our region, and work effectively and collegially with other providers to these same ends
Who is eligible?
A nurse practitioner within 18 months after graduation from an accredited NP program may apply for the North Mississippi Medical Center Advanced Practice Clinician (APC) Fellowship. The individual must be certified as an NP by AANP or ANCC and licensed by the state of Mississippi as an APRN to begin the Fellowship.
When does the Fellowship start?
The Fellowship runs from late September to late September of the following year.
What will I be doing? How is it different from a regular APC job?
The Fellowship is directed toward primary care and includes a series of clinical rotations and didactic sessions that enhance knowledge, skills and confidence.
Participation in this fellowship helps you complete paperwork for NPI, PMP, DEA and third-party payer credentialing, and provides additional clinical experience in a variety of settings. Continuing education is provided for a variety of skills, rural trauma, DOT exams, ASLS, Lifestyle Medicine and other components such as EMR documentation, MACRA and MIPS. Live and SIM offerings are provided to verify and document competency.
The program includes specialty and primary care rotations such as cardiology, diabetes treatment, pulmonology, infectious disease, behavioral health, chronic pain management, neurology, rheumatology and long term care. Primary care settings including family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics and Employee Health screenings. Elective clinical experiences are available. In regard to population health and community service, the NP Fellows are trained as lifestyle coaches and will assist in the Prevent T2 Diabetes Prevention community classes, and are trained in Tobacco Cessation to assist in the community-based tobacco cessation classes.
The Fellowship is different from a regular APC job in that you have a seasoned physician or APC with you throughout all the clinical rotations. The goal is to allow you adequate time to learn about North Mississippi Health Services’ clinics and hospitals and to broaden your knowledge base for an easier transition to practice. More than 50% of the primary care provided in northeast Mississippi is provided by Advanced Practice Providers.
Job Description and Benefits
During the Fellowship, you are considered a full-time regular salaried employee with full benefits. At the conclusion of the Fellowship, you are welcome to apply for open positions within NMHS. NMHS includes the flagship hospital, North Mississippi Medical Center, located in Tupelo; six community hospitals located in Amory, Eupora, Iuka, Pontotoc, West Point, Miss. and Hamilton, Ala.; and North Mississippi Medical Clinics locations.
Accreditation
The APC Fellowship has a primary care focus and is accredited by the National Nurse Practitioner Residency and Fellowship Training Consortium (NNPRFTC) and by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). NMMC's Advanced Practice Clinician Fellowship has been accredited since 2017. Visitors to our site are encouraged to provide public comments as part of our accreditation process. Please visit the Accreditation Status and Public Commentary Website. 
